SASCHA ZVEREV TOPPLES FEDERER TO REACH THE FINALS AT THE NITTO ATP TENNIS IN LONDON

Written by: Staff on 17th November 2018

SASCHA ZVEREV TOPPLES FEDERER TO REACH THE FINALS AT THE NITTO ATP TENNIS IN LONDON

epa07173419 Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts after beating Switzerland's Roger Federer in their semi final match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 17 November 2018. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER |

Germany’s Alexander Zverev reacts after beating Switzerland’s Roger Federer in their semi final match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 17 November 2018. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER

By Ricky Dimon

There will be no No. 1 vs. No. 2–Novak Djokvoic vs. Roger Federer–final at the year-end championship. Alexander Zverev prevented that blockbuster from taking place when he took down Federer 7-5, 7-6(5) during semifinal action on Saturday afternoon.

It brought a somewhat controversial end to the Swiss’ season following an incident at 3-4 in the second-set tiebreaker. Zverev stopped playing in the middle of a rally because a ballboy dropped a ball behind Federer’s baseline. Chair umpire Carlos Bernardes did not see it, but he agreed to call a let after the ballboy confirmed what had happened. On the replay, Zverev promptly smacked an ace for 4-4.

But enough about that incident (at least for now). The bottom line is that Zverev stepped up at played a great match in which he won 12 more total points than Federer despite the competitive scoreline.

The 21-year-old German, first from his country into the final of this event in more than 20 years (Boris Becker in 1996), finished with more winners than errors (23 to 20) and fired seven aces compared to just one double-fault. He served at 66 percent and won 88 percent of his first-serve points while advancing in one hour and 35 minutes.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer in action against Germany’s Alexander Zverev during their semi final match of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament in London, Britain, 17 November 2018. EPA-EFE/WILL OLIVER

Federer fared well for the most part aside from struggling with his return and giving back a service break early in the second set.

“I didn’t think I was hitting my spots very well for the majority of the match,” the 37-year-old said of his serve. “I think it came towards the end, which helped me to make it competitive and close at the very end. I think I could have done better on returning Sascha’s first serves, as well, in spells. I thought especially on his first serve in the beginning I struggled. I got into a better rhythm after that.

“Obviously having the break and giving it back again, that was disappointing. I feel like I can play better, but did that have anything to do with Sascha’s game? Maybe, as well. Sometimes margins are slim; opportunities are rare. It’s a point here and there that maybe didn’t go my way….

“I was always running after the score (playing from behind). Over time it catches (up with) you, obviously.”

“(I) just wanted to go out there…I wanted to play my best–give myself the best opportunity to play in a final of an event that is one of the biggest events in the world,” Zverev commented. “That was my mindset. I knew I had to be aggressive. I knew I had to kind of play my best game to even have a chance. It worked out well.”

His reward is a Sunday date inside the O2 Arena with either Djokovic or Kevin Anderson.